Yeah it looks like you have the outward lean also. Does yours rattle I think that lean causes stress and the rattle. Also I forgot about that forum app! I understand you get what you pay for but ironically I paid maybe 300 range more in middle for the bumper a year ago and I'm finding warn ones for same amount. Are they shit? I always thought warn was more around a LOD pricing.

I have the same bumper you do now, mine rattles once in a while when I am really bouncing but other than that it has been a good bumper. I hope mine doesnt break

I don't notice much rattle now, but
My hardtop is on so it's hard to say. The only issue I've had with the carrier so far is that plastic rub block snapped in half. I got a new one sent under warranty no problem. A buddy of mine also made me one out of nylon and I'm having no issue with that. I've run 30 miles of trails around big rapids and seasonal roads around Harrison with that bumper/carrier without problem. I had it rhino lined fresh out of the box, that will take care of any rust issues. As for the open design, flush it with the garden hose when you wash it. I was actually very suprised at how heavy this thing is, the bumper itself should take some abuse, the jury is still out on the carrier. I am planning to mount my hi-lift to the lower horizontal bar and possibly fab up a cargo rack to sit above the spare. If that doesn't cause the pivot point to fail I don't think anything will. If it does fail I'll probably replace it with a truck spindle and hub.

I'm not sure about the quality of warn's stuff. IMO most of the smittybilt bashing comes from the fact that they are produced overseas.
I have their bumpers front and rear as well as their winch and have had zero problems.

Yeah I can't lift that bumper I had issues with just the carrier when. It was in apart and in two pieces . For now my boyfriends going to weld it up good and I'll keep using it. Once he teaches me to weld I want to make some of my own stuff. But I will say that I had my other one ( rear bumper) coated and it turned the color of rust and was chipping off the coating. I included photos of my boyfriend jeep also I believe it was asking a few pages back.

Buy that. Quality costs. Honestly you will be hard pressed to find something of quality for under 600-700 these days.

I was actually astounded at the price of tire carriers when I got back into this shit a year ago. Thats part of the reason why my JK doesn't have a spare. $1200-1500 for a tire and carrier. No thanks. I could call a wrecker quite a few times for that price.

Buy that. Quality costs. Honestly you will be hard pressed to find something of quality for under 600-700 these days.

I was actually astounded at the price of tire carriers when I got back into this shit a year ago. Thats part of the reason why my JK doesn't have a spare. $1200-1500 for a tire and carrier. No thanks. I could call a wrecker quite a few times for that price.

Might be because I'm using tapatalk...

I'll admit I went the cheap route on my junk, but for the wheeling I do (when I wheel it should be ok). I have no issue fixing/reengineering something if it breaks either...gives me an excuse to buy more tools.

I would love American made products but they have to lower cost a bit for a regular worker with a house or family. I went wheeling with a bunch of JKs and they were mod to the Tee with Lod but they were all retired. If we are paying for quality ok? But are we paying more if it's made here too!? When do we get a break?

I would love American made products but they have to lower cost a bit for a regular worker with a house or family. I went wheeling with a bunch of JKs and they were mod to the Tee with Lod but they were all retired. If we are paying for quality ok? But are we paying more if it's made here too!? When do we get a break?

Welcome to an expensive hobby especially for quality. It's as simple as you get what you pay for...and it can be expensive because people will buy it if they want quality...

Look into JCR, They are a Michigan based company.
They are on the Forums here - Brimy311 or Monkeyevil
High quality, you break it they replace it warranty.
Their Stage 3 Bumper w/carrier isn't much more than the Smittybilt.
Save on shipping with a road trip to K-Zoo.

I would love American made products but they have to lower cost a bit for a regular worker with a house or family. I went wheeling with a bunch of JKs and they were mod to the Tee with Lod but they were all retired. If we are paying for quality ok? But are we paying more if it's made here too!? When do we get a break?

Next time somebody gets laid off at your place of employment, look to your post as a reason. If people continue to support others instead of their neighbors, and not be smart enough to recognize that what goes around comes around, shame on you.

__________________
GLFWDA member since 1979.
Member Southern Michigan Rock Crawlers.

I work two jobs and I can't afford Lod after bills if people want people to buy American make it affordable. I dont have 1000 for a bumper. Support American make it affordable. that's why people buy cheap shit because I need to run a spare and oh I only have maybe after bills a little money. As for DYI we are making this smitty bumper a krista built and re doing all the welds it should work perfect after that. oh and FYI Jeeperscreepers know where it's at they run sick deals. Btw if you can afford 800-1000 bumpers kudos. I know I can't.

Oh I am supporting my neighbors and maybe a few streets with all the money taken out of my checks :-)
Oh and the women in front of me in line with a bridge card buying a tooth brush that shoots water into the gums and teeth and is told her card doesn't have enough money so she opens her purse to 200 dollars in 100s and says well put the food back I want the cool toothbrush...

Buy that. Quality costs. Honestly you will be hard pressed to find something of quality for under 600-700 these days.

I was actually astounded at the price of tire carriers when I got back into this shit a year ago. Thats part of the reason why my JK doesn't have a spare. $1200-1500 for a tire and carrier. No thanks. I could call a wrecker quite a few times for that price.

For whatever damn reason, JK stuff is almost twice the cost of most TJ stuff. Some of the parts I understand because the JK has more curves vs the TJ being flat, but other parts don't make any sense. Either way, you have to pay to play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristavsmichigan

I would love American made products but they have to lower cost a bit for a regular worker with a house or family. I went wheeling with a bunch of JKs and they were mod to the Tee with Lod but they were all retired. If we are paying for quality ok? But are we paying more if it's made here too!? When do we get a break?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristavsmichigan

I work two jobs and I can't afford Lod after bills if people want people to buy American make it affordable. I dont have 1000 for a bumper. Support American make it affordable. that's why people buy cheap shit because I need to run a spare and oh I only have maybe after bills a little money. As for DYI we are making this smitty bumper a krista built and re doing all the welds it should work perfect after that. oh and FYI Jeeperscreepers know where it's at they run sick deals. Btw if you can afford 800-1000 bumpers kudos. I know I can't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristavsmichigan

Oh I am supporting my neighbors and maybe a few streets with all the money taken out of my checks :-)
Oh and the women in front of me in line with a bridge card buying a tooth brush that shoots water into the gums and teeth and is told her card doesn't have enough money so she opens her purse to 200 dollars in 100s and says well put the food back I want the cool toothbrush...

Welcome to being 21. Either get used to having crap, or spend a little more money and get something well made. I went through the "buy cheap shit" phase when I didn't have a whole lot of money when I was younger. Now I make a little more money and buy better stuff. Guess what, the more expensive stuff generally ends up being cheaper because I don't need to replace it in a year, nor does it give me the headaches the cheap shit does. Not to mention, it generally functions 10x better as well. There is cheap american made stuff too, but it's also shitty. The more expensive stuff is that way for a reason. Do you buy the $10 jeans that fall apart and look like ass or the expensive ones? Same applies to jeep parts. Suck it up!

Hello Krista! Welcome to Great Lakes 4x4! I like your Jeep ,it is a nice mild jeep build. I don't own a Jeep but I drive a mild Toyota . I find the more I get into wheeling the more I hate bolt on stuff. I have the painted fender flares and I loved them at first, now they are GAY and I'm taking them off and getting the sawzall out . I have built a lot of my truck mods and I have paid for a lot of my trucks mods. Either way it is still the way I like it . I didn't do my 5.29's in my axles I paid to have them done. I also had my sas done to my truck. I have to say If non of us (including Becky) had not paid for the things we wanted done ,someone in the 4x4 crowd would be homeless and starving now. I chose my battles wisely on what I build and what I pay someone else for. You will find that most of the people on this site are actually very nice their E penises just get a little big at times . If you can take the massive shit that's dished out here it is really a fun site to be on and there are a lot of interesting characters . Thick skin is needed too. Good luck on your build . Oh, and I have some fabulous wet okole seat covers on my shit, They make my ass feel at home.